By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
A former employee of the United Nations has been convicted of murdering his wife at the Jacaranda Lake Elementaita Lodge located in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
The Naivasha High Court found Nicholas Koskei guilty following a comprehensive trial that confirmed his involvement in the premeditated murder of Rhoda Mumbi Mutua.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reported that the evidence presented in court illustrated how the accused deceived the victim into accompanying him to the lodge on July 8, 2017, under the pretence of a romantic escape intended to celebrate his 36th birthday and address their marital issues. Tragically, the trip ended in sorrow when Mumbi was later found deceased in the bathtub of their hotel room.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) additionally stated that the prosecution team, under the leadership of Counsel Nelly Maingi, presented 17 witnesses. These individuals contributed to reconstructing the events surrounding Mumbi’s death, as the combination of forensic evidence, witness testimonies, and circumstantial evidence collectively demonstrated Koskei’s involvement in the crime.
“The case was prosecuted under Section 203 as read together with Section 204 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes the unlawful killing of another person with malice aforethought. Delivering judgment on 4th March 2025, Justice Richard Mwongo ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt,” the ODPP said on an X post.
“The court found that the murder was premeditated and that the accused had meticulously planned and executed the crime.”
“Following the conviction, the court directed that a pre-sentencing probation report be compiled and submitted within 21 days,” the ODPP said.
The court has set the sentencing hearing for March 27, 2025, during which it will review the report along with any mitigating or aggravating circumstances prior to delivering the final sentence.